Malaya (ma-la-ya) adj;
1 free
2 not in someone else's power
3 not controlled or enslaved by another
4 free from the influence of others
5 free to speak one's mind
6 a free people.
About Malaya
Malaya Designs was established in 1997 in the San Francisco Bay Area, to celebrate the richness of our heritage. The first and original company anywhere to offer; custom, handmade wearable art utilizing Baybayin. A tangible example of our Filipino heritage, each pendant is meticulously handcrafted from Philippine Narra, Mahogany, and Giant Bamboo. A transliteration of a word or a name is burned onto the pendant culminating in a unique and personalized keepsake. A memento to share with family, friends and a legacy of knowledge to pass on to the next generation.
The Artist: Ray Haguisan
An artist who specializes in a technique called Pyrography "writing with fire" using a wood burning tool. My art is primarily focused on the use of the ancient Philippine script, the Baybayin, and have been an avid practitioner and artist since 1994. My first introduction to Baybayin (alibata) was in 1993 when I attended a conversational Tagalog class at junior college and soon afterwards developed my craft and met other practitioners. Born from my frustration of observing a lack of identity in the Filipino community, I established Malaya Designs in 1997 in the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco is the catalyst of the burgeoning Baybayin renaissance within the Fil-Am community comprising of practitioners, artists and activists. I have been involved in local Filipino festivals, Collegiate events and art exhibitions since 1997. Some venues I have participated in include; Frienship Games-CS Fullerton, SF State-PCN, UC Berkeley-PCN, USF-PCN, SJose State, USD, UCLA, CS Hayward, SCSU, Fiesta Filipina-SF, FPAC-San Pedro, Philippine Weekend-Delano, Barrio Fiesta-Stockton, Tabi-tabi Po exhibit-1AMSF, AHSC-SF, SF Asian Art Museum, and currently participate and serve as a Pavilion coordinater at FAAE Pistahan at Yerba Buena Gardens. A decades worth of practical experience, and refinements to my craft that has resulted in a truly unique brand of artistry.
